Method of steriling a packaging material by means of a sterilising agent in liquid form

• US 20040247482A1
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Sickert, Lars, Ekstrom, Jan-Erik
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/18 Aseptic storing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/103 Sterilising flat or tubular webs

Abstract

Method of sterilising a packaging material (1) by means of a sterilising agent in liquid form, comprising the steps of: providing a packaging material (1) to be sterilised, providing a source (11) of sterilising agent in liquid form, forcing the liquid sterilising agent through a nozzle (12) to form a jet (14a) directed towards the packaging material, subjecting the jet (14a) of liquid sterilising agent to a controlled, periodic disturbance causing the jet (14a) of liquid sterilising agent to form a train (14) of droplets of controlled, essentially uniform size and controlled rate, moving the packaging material (1) in relation to said nozzle (12) or vice versa, whereby said train (14) of droplets forms a coating (2) of sterilising agent of controlled thickness and controlled coverage on the packaging material (1), and vaporising the film of sterilising agent on the packaging material (1). The invention also concerns a similar method and devices for implementing said methods.

Claims

1. Method of sterilising a packaging material by means of a sterilising agent in liquid form, comprising the steps of:

providing a packaging material to be sterilised,

providing a source of sterilising agent in liquid form,

forcing the liquid sterilising agent through a nozzle to form a jet directed towards the packaging material,

subjecting the jet of liquid sterilising agent to a controlled, periodic disturbance causing the jet of liquid sterilising agent to form a train of droplets of controlled, essentially uniform size and controlled rate,

moving the packaging material in relation to said nozzle or vice versa, whereby said train of droplets forms a coating of sterilising agent of controlled thickness and controlled coverage on the packaging material and

vaporising the film of sterilising agent on the packaging material.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the droplets are electrically charged and deflection electrodes will deflect either the wanted or the unwanted droplets.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the film of sterilising agent is vaporised by applying heat to the sterilising agent on the packaging material.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the train of droplets form an essentially continuous film.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is arranged in an array including a plurality of nozzles the array being moved in relation to the packaging material or vice versa to and fro between a first position and a second position.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sterilising of the packaging material with the liquid sterilising agent is supplemented with a step of subjecting the packaging material to radiation, preferably UV-radiation.

3. Method of sterilising a packaging material by means of a sterilising agent in liquid form, comprising the steps of:

providing a packaging material to be sterilised,

providing a source of sterilising agent in liquid form,

forcing the liquid sterilising agent through a nozzle to form a train of droplets of controlled, essentially uniform size and controlled rate, travelling in a direction towards the packaging material, by subjecting the liquid in said source to a controlled disturbance whenever a droplet is desired,

moving the packaging material in relation to said nozzle or vice versa, whereby said train of droplets forms a coating of sterilising agent of controlled thickness and controlled coverage on the packaging material, and

vaporising the film of sterilising agent by applying heat to the sterilising agent on the packaging material.

8. Device for sterilising a packaging material by means of a sterilising agent in liquid form, comprising:

a source of sterilising agent in liquid form,

a nozzle through which the liquid sterilising agent is forced in order to form a jet directed towards the packaging material,

a vibrating device subjecting the jet of liquid sterilising agent to a controlled, periodic disturbance, and

driving means moving the packaging material in relation to said nozzle or vice versa.

9. Device according to claim 8, further comprising charging electrodes electrically charging the droplets, and deflection electrodes deflecting either the wanted or the unwanted droplets.

11. Device according to claim 8, further comprising heating means vaporising the film of sterilising agent by applying heat to the sterilising agent on the packaging material.

12. Device according to claim 8, wherein the nozzle is arranged in an array including a plurality of nozzles, the array being movable in relation to the packaging material or vice versa to and fro between a first position and a second position.

13. Device according to claim 8, further comprising a source of radiation subjecting the packaging material to radiation, preferably UV-radiation.

10. Device for sterilising a packaging material by means of a sterilising agent in liquid form, comprising:

a source of sterilising agent in liquid form,

a vibrating device subjecting the liquid in said source to a controlled disturbance whenever a droplet is desired,

a nozzle through which the liquid sterilising agent is forced in order to form a train of droplets travelling in a direction towards the packaging material, and

driving means moving the packaging material in relation to said nozzle or vice versa.